Human Resource Management – the Google Way

Executive Summary

In this project, we discuss the Human Resource practices at Google Inc. They are known as “people operations” headed by Laszlo Bock.

Googlers(Google employees) work hard and have fun too. The workforce is diversified with international communities, Gayglers (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender), and Greyglers (Googlers over 40 years). We have tried to use HRM Models such as “The Harvard Model” and “The Guest Model” which link the current HRM policies of Google with the theoretical aspect of HRM as a subject. The Harvard model throws light on aspects such as situational factors, stakeholder’s interest, HR management choices and decisions, their outcomes, and consequences.

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Whereas the Guest Model throws light on aspects such as HRM practices like hiring, training, appraisals, relations, etc., and also aspects such as behavioral, financial, and performance outcomes. In accordance with these models, we saw that the success of Google lies in its open policy to accept the employee’s ideas. Google has been able to instill creativity and innovation among its employees. The next part of the project gives a detailed idea about the standard recruitment and selection process at Google offices all over the world including India.

Google conducts the GLAT (Google Lab Aptitude test) to see if the prospective employees are compatible with the work environment. Bringing to light techniques such as the Google India Code Jam, through which they hire the best techies from all across India to work for the company. Finally, we have given recommendations wherein keeping in mind the drawbacks of some of its practices, we suggest corrective measures.

Introduction

This report identifies the current HRM policies of Google Inc. The company which had less than 20 employees in 1998 now has over 20000 on its payroll. We have evaluated them against the Harvard and Guest model of HRM. Also, recruitment and selection procedures have been discussed. Some of them are standard while some are unusual concluding with a few recommendations.

Company Overview

Google is one of the leading internet technology and advertising companies in the world. It flagship product is its internet search engine. It also provides advertising services which are its main source of revenue. Google employees named googlers, which are now almost 20,000 in number.

People Operations At Google

The HRM activities are classified on the basis of the parameters given by the Harvard model and the guest model. Situational factors and Stakeholder interest in the Harvard model and HR practices and Outcomes of the Guest model have been identified w. r. t Google.  Refer to Appendix for diagrammatic representation.

Situational Factors:

Business strategy and conditions - The mission is to gather the entire world’s information and make it accessible to everyone. At the company data is sacred. Employees are encouraged to voice out inferences from data and not feelings.

It is believed that more data equals more knowledge and better decisions. Its informal corporate motto “Don’t be Evil”, reminds Googlers that being ethical is essential. However, this can be debated in view of its acceptance of filtering search results in China.

Management philosophy – The management believes that if any employee fails, his/her managers are to blame.

Labor market – The IT industry has a labor market with engineers from Ivy League Schools (full-timers) as well as contractors.

Task technology – The IT industry is highly dynamic and competitive and to thrive one must continually innovate and delight the customers.

Laws and societal values – There have been instances where Googlers have taken the company to court for outstanding payment of salary and disabled accounts which could prove harmful to the company.

Stakeholder Interest:

Management –  vice president of people operations, Google. A Chief Cultural Officer or Director of Human Resources is designated to maintain the company’s unique work culture. He is in charge of making sure that the company’s values are adhered to.

Community – It gives back to society through its philanthropic wing which undertakes in-kind product donations, volunteering, and charity.

Hrm Practices:

Hiring – Due to the dynamic work environment the company hires people who are quick learners and innovative. (Sullivan. J 2007). The hiring process is quite long and difficult with tests, pre-interview screening, and finally at least 4 rounds of interviews.

The Google infrastructure has daycare and elder care centers, spa and hair salons, car wash and oil check facilities, and everything else that technology-obsessed people would need in terms of a benefits package. Employees must work for 70% of their working hours and are entitled to unlimited sick leave, stock options, and various other perquisites.

Work System

The employees have experience in three main areas – human resources, business consulting with good problem-solving skills, statistics, and psychology. Google has an informal ‘value-added’ environment. The environment is creative, fun, and relaxed.

Individuality and innovation are encouraged. There is neither a dress code nor formal daily meetings. TGIFs or weekly Friday meetings are held where questions can be posed to the co-founders also. Nooglers are given special treatment and made to experience the spirit of cooperation. The downside of such an environment is that Googlers show up late, don’t pay attention, leave early and keep messaging on their mobiles.

Time

Simply put, employees get 1/5th of their time to work on projects of their own choosing. This keeps employees challenged and at the same time provides good business opportunities for the company. Kuntze. R & Matulich. E, 2010). Hourly time isn’t tracked so there’s no way to know what percentage of time people are spending on side projects. The concept functions more as an attitude – that new projects should be started by anyone, not necessarily those at the top. Also giving time is of no use if the culture of the company does not support it. Training and Development - Google sponsors lessons in foreign languages. Unique development opportunities are provided to engineers. EngEDU, an engineering training group provides training classes and career development services to them.

It is mandatory to undergo training and development sessions for a minimum of 120 hours/per year. Google stresses the development of people through on-the-job learning. It occurs through frequent departmental “tech talks”, new mentors, etc. Appraisal - Google says it puts a "twist on 360-degree feedback by providing functionality for managers and employees to nominate `peer reviewers' from anywhere across the organization”. Quarterly goals are set and performance evaluations are based on these; the company aims for a 70 percent success rate. Anonymous 2008) Relations - HR practices at Google have coined ‘People Operations’.

Employee passion is maintained by limiting bureaucracy. Ideas that are unique are encouraged no matter where they came from. When many employees started to leave it formulated a mathematical algorithm to look for unhappy Googlers. The idea was to get inside the employee's heads even before they thought of leaving the company. However, it can be argued that it was a waste of money. James Smither, a professor at La Salle University, Philadelphia, says that it doesn’t make sense. "No algorithm is any better than the data you feed it.

And most data about behavior has questionable reliability. " If we put it in the garbage the algorithm will give the same back.

Long Term Consequences

Individual well-being - Google allows employees to work on any project of their choice which boosts creative thought and instills job satisfaction.  Career development and tutorial services are provided. One way Google speeds development is through a yearlong "base camp" training initiative that features a combination of HR specialist training and an MBA-like curriculum.

Organizational effectiveness – The Company was placed fourth in Fortune’s list of America’s most Admired Companies and first in the list of Best Companies to Work For.

Behavioral Outcomes

Motivation - The main factors of motivation in the company are the dynamic environment, quick decision-making, and a culture where ambitious ideas are not only encouraged but also accepted. Co-operation - Googlers across levels and departments say that it doesn’t matter if they are designing search engines or cooking meals for their colleagues, they feel that their work can change the world.

Commitment – The thing about Google is that even after 12 years, it continues to instill a sense of creativity and ambition within its employees and now has more than 20000. The freedom given to its workers infuses in them a sense of responsibility and obligation: "Are we taking advantage of what we've got here? " they ask "Are we doing enough? Are we doing everything we can?

Performance Outcomes

Generally, a new employee is required to fill out paperwork but at Google, it is done electronically. I went to a staff meeting that afternoon and got assigned to figure out how Google could launch Enterprise [applications for corporations] in Europe. I was told to come back with the answer at the end of the week. It was like, 'Hey, New Guy, you don't know anything about our business yet, and you don't have any international experience, but here are some people who can help you. Go figure it out. " We launched in Europe a few months later. " Innovation - 20% time. Simply put, employees get 1/5th of their time to work on projects of their own choosing.

This keeps employees challenged and at the same time provides good business opportunities for the company. Google services that were all started as individual projects are Gmail, Google News, Orkut, etc.

Negative Turnover - The Company had to raise the wages by 10 % starting in 2011 to reduce the defection of workers who were looking for brighter pastures. With $33 billion in cash and a stock market capitalization of almost $180 billion, Google can afford to throw money and shares at its employees. Yet the significance of Google's across-the-board pay raise extends far beyond the corporate competition. Paul Buchheit, a Googler who coined "Don't be evil! " is a founder, with three ex-Googlers, of a social-networking company called FriendFeed. Nathan Stoll, who managed Google News, is hard at work on his new company, Mechanical Zoo. Several top people have gone to Facebook, most notably Sheryl Sandberg, who ran Google's automated ad sales, and Elliot Schrage, who ran PR.

Financial Outcomes

Profits - Google has matured very quickly in the last twelve years since its inception in 1998. The company’s operating profit and net profit have increased to $8312. million and $6520. 4 million in 2009 respectively which is almost 25. 3% and 54. 3% as compared to the previous years.

Standard Recruitment And Selection

The HR Technology and Operations Manager, Melissa Karp says that the fast pace with which Google is growing means that the senior managers have to spend 30% of their time in interviewing prospective employees. The company says every applicant goes through at least four rounds of interviews taken by direct line managers, potential peers, and subordinates. Liane Hornsey apparently had to go through fourteen interviews before getting her job.

Once selected and the contract signed, presents are given to the Noogler, his/her desk is decorated with balloons and an invitation is given to dining with his/her manager. This tough entry means that only the most talented and culturally compatible people are hired and the firing of employees is less. There is not much stress among people over being thrown out. After anyone applies online the company, uses its applicant tracking system to weigh in on applicants.

Background information on education and work experience is collected and stored in the ATS. Then it is compared to data about existing Google employees and if there is a match, an e-mail is sent to ask the particular employee for internal references. Employees update the ATS by replying to this e-mail. Google uses its google lab aptitude test which tries to measure his/her compatibility with its work environment. It is put in technology magazines and applicants hand it in accompanied by their resume. It also serves to select those applicants who have the desired skills and mindset for the interview stage.

Google India Code Jam

The India Code Jam is a contest where software writers are asked to write codes that can land them a job at Google’s Research and Development Centre which otherwise is a long and difficult process. The fastest writer also gets $6,900. It is a hunt to find the most brilliant code writer in South and Southeast Asia. Their problem-solving, designing, and code-writing skills are put to test. Finalists are required to create and test software and finally program a war-based game. However, this contest is so complex to complete that only the most brilliant code writers think of applying.

Google has been unsuccessful in finding these brilliant engineers for its Indian office. According to insiders, the Bangalore office wanted to hire 100 employees but their staff has only 25 people.

Recommendations

The work culture of Google is very motivating and challenging. The 20% time concept is a huge success. The perquisites offered are more than any employee hopes for. However, after studying the policies of Google and arguments of various third parties in favor or against them we have come up with a few suggestions for improvement. Employee turnover rate - The number of employees leaving the company has been increasing in the last few years. Some of the cited reasons were low pay, bureaucracy, and poor mentoring. We suggest that superiors pay more attention to employees and guide them wherever necessary. Also, an environment that is fun may backfire. A balance between work and fun must be maintained.

Mathematical Algorithm - James Smither, a professor of management at La Salle University in Philadelphia argues that the idea of the mathematical algorithm is very unrealistic as the behavioral data may or may not be accurate.

Rather it is suggested that Googlers should be approached directly so as to know why they are dissatisfied. It has a bad reputation for underpaying employees, even though they are trying to motivate them by providing stock options. Thus Google should see that the employees they hire are paid in accordance with the work that they do and at the same time see that they are not dissatisfied.

Recruitment - Google India Code Jam is an innovative way of recruiting people, but the only drawback is that it is a very difficult process.

Thus measures should be taken to see that the process is neither too easy nor too difficult so that the best talent is selected and at the same time it should not deter people from applying.

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